Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Jun had meant to leave earlier but then the Kuni were about and that scared her to her core because she thought they were looking for her but apparently something else was afoot and Yoji had shielded her from being found out. Now she just had to walk out of the castle among the army of servants preparing for the festival and feast.

Easy right?

She was terrified but hid it with a smile and a nod… just smile and nod.

Saisei was staying at the inn, but his master Yusuke was at the castle. As soon as he gets cleared by the Kuni he runs as fast as possible to get to the castle and check if they were so bold as to test the nakodo, too.

In his run, though, he bumps into an obstacle as he turns one of the corners to get in.

Jun landed on her bottom sprawled out from the samurai and then blinked with terror at what just happened.

"Holy shi--" Sasiei curses as he feels something ricocheting back to where it came from in a lower trajectory. Noticing it is a young lady, he winces a bit and kneels to help her stand up again, "I am terribly sorry. My apologies, I was in a rush and didn't see you."

She scrambled to her knees kowtowing and said, "Please samurai-sama, do not punish me!"

"What? Punish you." He laughs a bit, "Of course not. Who would do that. I bumped into you, not the other way around."

"And I am so sorry," she said not looking him in the eye.

"Iie. Absurd. I am so sorry." He shakes his head and offers his arm again, "Are you hurt?"

"I am fine, just startled," she replied calming down.

"You are kind samurai-sama, to show such concern."

"Thank you, but I see it as common sense." He says, shrugging, "I mean, I bumped into you, you fell. If I weren't such in a rush, this wouldn't have happened and I could spare you both the fall and this scene."

Once he lifts up, and she does the same, the Otomo provides a short nod, acknowledging her as a heimin. "Well, now I hope I didn't stop you from your duties."

"My duties are nothing compared to yours samurai-sama, I pray that I have not delayed you from your most important task," she said in reply not meeting his eyes.

"I will now when I get there." He says, and takes a better look at her, "Perhaps you can help me out, then. I need to know where the guests are staying here in the castle. I take it you serve here, correct?"

She brightened and said, "Hai, I can help you... shall I show you?"

"Absolutely. I need to find Otomo Yusuke's room, can you take me there?" He asks, and then narrows his eyes a bit, asking, "By the way, what is your name?"

"Oh... oh, apologies, it is Jun if it pleases you, samurai-sama," she replied meekly.

"Otomo Saisei." He says, in return and smiles, asking, "Now, Jun-san, care to take me there? I've heard there'll be some ceremonies today, and my I gotta make sure I'll be in those my master cannot, or will not."

"Of course, he would be on the second floor, I know this castle well," she said proudly.

As they move forward into the guest area, Saisei brings another question before they arrive in order to kill time and make some conversation, "So. I take you're born here. Have your lords given you a specific duty: handmaiden to some princess or something?"

“Nothing important my lord, my duties usually lie outside the castle, though I spent many days of my childhood within the walls. This one grew up alongside Hida Yoji and Hida Daichi, brothers of Hida-dono,” she replied softly.

"Ah! That is very interesting. I haven't met Hida Daichi-sama yet –– and I confess I didn't know they were siblings to Hida-dono –– but I did manage to provide a good cheering to the groom yesterday. Hopefully I get a chance to talk more with him today. Anything important I should bring up, or maybe avoid?"

He blinks a bit and presses his lips to say, "I mean, if you still are in contact, that is, since you mentioned you grew alongside."

"If you mean Hida Yoji, he loves speaking of his dog, Bujaro," she replied with a smile.

"Indeed, the groom. So Bujaro is his pet. Thanks for sharing that." He makes a mental note, and before departing, takes the opportunity to make a more daring question, "I wonder how I can give him some pointers about the bride. Any idea about what he knows of her, or thinks?"

She hesitated and then said, “He is nervous that he knows nothing of her as a person. He’s a sensitive soul, a good man that likes personal… connections.“

“That is just my humble observation.”

Saisei nods a couple of times. "That is something that can be improved. I am sure. I've met Daidoji-sama yesterday and she is definitely the type of Crane bride any man would want to be matched to. You have been very helpful, Jun-san. Please, do let me know if you need something that your lords won't mind me providing to you. I am staying at the Inn."

Looking at the door, he finally asks, before departing, "You sure this is the room, then?"

The young girl nodded confidently. The door was slid open and inside was Otomo Yusuke sitting at a table reading over letters. Seated across from him was Ikeda Ishi.

She rose to greet Saisei.